Publications

Abstract not provided.

Abstract not provided.

Many experimenters at the Annular Core Research Reactor (ACRR) have a need to predict the neutron/gamma environment prior to testing. In some cases, the neutron/gamma environment is needed to understand the test results after the completion of an experiment. In an effort to satisfy the needs of experimenters, a model of the ACRR was developed for use with the Monte Carlo N-Particle transport codes MCNP [Br03] and MCNPX [Wa02]. The model contains adjustable safety, transient, and control rods, several of the available spectrum-modifying cavity inserts, and placeholders for experiment packages. The ACRR model was constructed such that experiment package models can be easily placed in the reactor after being developed as stand-alone units. An addition to the 'standard' model allows the FREC-II cavity to be included in the calculations. This report presents the MCNP/MCNPX model of the ACRR. Comparisons are made between the model and the reactor for various configurations. Reactivity worth curves for the various reactor configurations are presented. Examples of reactivity worth calculations for a few experiment packages are presented along with the measured reactivity worth from the reactor test of the experiment packages. Finally, calculated neutron/gamma spectra are presented.

Abstract not provided.

The goal of the Very High Efficiency Reactor study was to develop and analyze concepts for the next generation of nuclear power reactors. The next generation power reactor should be cost effective compared to current power generation plant, passively safe, and proliferation-resistant. High-temperature reactor systems allow higher electrical generating efficiencies and high-temperature process heat applications, such as thermo-chemical hydrogen production. The study focused on three concepts; one using molten salt coolant with a prismatic fuel-element geometry, the other two using high-pressure helium coolant with a prismatic fuel-element geometry and a fuel-pebble element design. Peak operating temperatures, passive-safety, decay heat removal, criticality, burnup, reactivity coefficients, and material issues were analyzed to determine the technical feasibility of each concept.

BURNCAL is a Fortran computer code designed to aid in analysis, prediction, and optimization of fuel burnup performance in a nuclear reactor. The code uses output parameters generated by the Monte Carlo neutronics code MCNP to determine the isotopic inventory as a function of time and power density. The code allows for multiple fueled regions to be analyzed. The companion code, RELOAD, can be used to shuffle fueled regions or reload regions with fresh fuel. BURNCAL can be used to study the reactivity effects and isotopic inventory as a function of time for a nuclear reactor system. Neutron transmutation, fission, and radioactive decay are included in the modeling of the production and removal terms for each isotope of interest. For a fueled region, neutron transmutation, fuel depletion, fission-product poisoning, actinide generation, and burnable poison loading and depletion effects are included in the calculation. Fueled and un-fueled regions, such as cladding and moderator, can be analyzed simultaneously. The nuclides analyzed are limited only by the neutron cross section availability in the MCNP cross-section library. BURNCAL is unique in comparison to other burnup codes in that it does not use the calculated neutron flux as input to other computer codes to generate the nuclide mixture for the next time step. Instead, BURNCAL directly uses the neutron absorption tally/reaction information generated by MCNP for each nuclide of interest to determine the nuclide inventory for that region. This allows for the full capabilities of MCNP to be incorporated into the calculation and a more accurate and robust analysis to be performed.

Production of the molybdenum-99 isotope at the Annular Core Research Reactor requires highly enriched, uranium oxide loaded targets to be irradiated for several days in the high neutron-flux region of the core. This report presents the safety analysis for the irradiation of up to seven Cintichem-type targets in the central region of the core and compares the results to the Annular Core Research Reactor Safety Analysis Report. A 19 target grid configuration is presented that allows one to seven targets to be irradiated, with the remainder of the grid locations filled with aluminum ''void'' targets. Analyses of reactor, neutronic, thermal hydraulics, and heat transfer calculations are presented. Steady-state operation and accident scenarios are analyzed with the conclusion that the reactor can be operated safely with seven targets in the grid, and no additional risk to the public.